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 |  | Do-It-Yourself: $3-$5+ a Square Foot |  | Installed: $7-$35+ a Square Foot |
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Stone patios vary in style from cut rectangular smooth-edged pieces of stone to rough-edged stones laid out to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Flagstone is not a type of rock but rather a generic term for any large, flat, quarried pieces of natural stone used in outdoor landscaping or indoor flooring.
Typical costs: | - Just the stone for a flagstone patio can cost $3-$5 a square foot or more, depending on location and the type and quality of stone, or about $600-$1,000 for an average patio up to 10'x20,' and $1,200-$2,000 for a larger 20'x20' area.
- Professional installation of a flagstone patio can cost $7-$20 a square foot for dry-laid and $15-$35 or more a square foot for wet (mortared on reinforced concrete), depending on local rates and the complexity of the project, or about $700-$2,400 for a dry-laid patio up to 10'x20' and $1,500-$5,000 for a wet-set patio.
What should be included: | - DIY Network provides how-to instructions[1] for a small dry-set flagstone patio, estimating this as an easy-to-moderate project, which takes one weekend and costs about $250-$500. Stone mason Mike Haduck provides a video demonstration[2] of installing a wet-set flagstone patio (mortared with Portland cement over a concrete base).
- The thicker the flagstone, the more it will cost, and a wet installation costs more than dry. Typical widths are 1" minus, 1.5", 2", 2.5" and 3". Generally, 1" minus should only be installed with a concrete sub-base; and 2" to 3" widths are good for dry-laid stepping stones or a patio.
- The three main steps for installing flagstone include preparing the area (digging and leveling); building the base (typically sand or gravel for dry-laid, and about a 4"-thick concrete slab for wet); and laying the stones (making them fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, cutting as needed and using mortar for a wet installation). Flagstones are typically large and heavy, so generally at least two people are needed to lay a flagstone patio.
- Many types of stone can be called flagstone, including slate, sandstone, bluestone, fieldstone, limestone and more. LandscapingNetwork.com provides a comparison chart[3] for seven common kinds of stone that can be used as flagstones.
Additional costs: | - Many contractors recommend sealing outdoor flagstone to preserve the stone and give it a more colorful "wet" look. Sealant averages $30 -$60 a quart, or $100 -$200 a gallon; stone cleaners run $10 -$40 a quart. Typically a patio should be cleaned and re-sealed every 18-36 months, depending on usage and exposure to the elements.
Shopping for a flagstone patio: | - If possible, get several estimates. Be somewhat wary of a flat per-square-foot price quoted over the telephone; there are so many factors that can affect the cost, a contractor typically needs to see the site before giving a firm quote.
- A flagstone patio can be installed by a handyman, landscaper or landscaper designer or contractor. For larger projects, search for members of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers[4] , Planet (Professional Landcare Network)[5] or the Marble Institute of America[6] (for natural stone distributors and suppliers).
- Ask for a check references from satisfied customers; check that the company is properly insured and licensed.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: dyladr16 in Rocky Face, GA. | Posted: July 26th, 2018 11:07AM |
| Sq Ft of Patio: 280-2900 | Type of Stone: 2" flagstone |
| Installer: private landscaper |
bought my own 2" thick flagstone, 2 pallets for $1000, enough for 280-ish sq ft kidney bean shaped dry-laid patio. Landscaper charged me $5100 for all other materials and labor incl. ground excavation, gravel, sand, and polymeric-sand, sculpting & leveling stone into a professional kidney-bean final shape. No border used, lined edge with polymer-sand flush against lawn/grass. Was this price too high? |
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External Resources: | - www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-flagstone-patio/index.html
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiFazUnKwd4
- www.landscapingnetwork.com/flagstone/compare.html
- www.apld.com/
- isgweb.landcarenetwork.org/directory/FindaContractor.aspx
- www.marble-institute.com/directory/index.cfm
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